Manufacturers in the UK reported growth had reached a five-month high in June prior to the UK vote to leave the EU, a survey suggests.

The latest Markit/CIPS manufacturing index, taken from a survey of 600 industrial companies to assess orders, output, employment and inventories, rose to an overall score of 52.1 in June, up from 50.4 in May.

However survey compiler Markit said 99 per cent of the June surveys, conducted between June 13 and June 27, were submitted before the result of the June 23 UK referendum result was known.

Manufacturing growth was led by new orders ,which rose at their fastest pace since October 2015 and exports also rose to a seven month high.

However, the sector also cut jobs for the sixth straight month in June.

Markit economist Rob Dobson said latest PMI figures “signalled that the manufacturing sector has started to move out of its early year sluggishness in the lead up to the UK's EU referendum”.

He added: “Whether this growth recovery can be sustained will depend heavily on whether the current financial and political volatility spills over to the real economy.”

Barclays head of corporate finance for central Scotland, Andy Hall, said while the latest PMI figures were encouraging, the mood of overall uncertainty clouding the manufacturing industry ahead of the EU referendum “shows no sign of abating” post Brexit vote and will “inevitably thwart important investment decisions needed to help boost growth”.

He added: “The short term effects for exporters may well be positive, as sterling depreciates, but the long term impact of trade agreements, labour supply and a slower economy will weigh heavy on the mind.

“That said, the manufacturing sector has shown great resilience in the past in the face of challenging market conditions and we should be confident it will continue to do so again.”